Background
The Pharmaceutical industry is, and to my mind pretty much always has been, in a state of
development and continuous improvement. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to be
heavily involved in the discovery/development and/or the introduction of new and often
revolutionary types of pharmaceutical products and processes can rightly feel very proud of our
achievements. So too can those who take older, well-established products and continue to develop
their manufacturing processes in order to retain a cost-effective supply chain of safe and effective
medicines, which in turn provide real patient benefit.

The recent PHSS annual meeting (which was held virtually) concentrated on some of the newer
types of medicines – Advanced Therapeutic Medicinal Products (ATMPs). Great steps forward in
medicine are being made with these types of product, but such innovative products and the
processes involved in making them are not necessarily straightforward and it can be relatively easy
to focus on the sophisticated technology involved at the expense of some of the more basic aspects
of current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). This was particularly highlighted in the
presentation “GMPs for ATMPs - A Changing Landscape” presented by Philip Rose, Senior GMDP
Inspector, MHRA

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So, what are the issues/ concerns?

In terms of ATMPs, Mr. Rose laid it out very clearly: -

 

• The rapid increase in the use of ATMPs from 200 patients in 2018 to a projected 2,500 patients in 2021

• 93 ongoing ATMP clinical trials in 2019 (up 9% from 2018)

• A resultant increase in new ATMP facilities. Meaning that the GMP footprint for ATMPs is up by 343% over the last three years

• That the AMTP ‘Part IV’ is a supplement to the existing EU GMPs

• The teams involved in these projects are usually technically very strong in terms of their understanding of the product but...there can often be significant weaknesses in that

• New facilities may not have an established Pharmaceutical Quality System

• Personnel will often be new to GMP

• Many of the issues raised at inspection relate not so much to the product itself but are more in the issues of basic GMP such as but not limited to:-

  • Change Control

  • Lack of documentation

  • Risks not adequately considered

  • Timeliness – after the event

  • Effectiveness checks

  • Operators do not sufficiently understand GMPs e.g. Annex 1

  • Facilities not designed in alignment to annex 1.

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MBH / PHSS comment
These are exciting times but, to my mind, this is not necessarily new nor restricted to ATMPs. In my
many years working in the research-based Pharma industry and as a consultant, I would often come
across the same issue when helping take new products and processes from R&D into routine
production. In the early days R&D would often develop a new product or process and then literally
“throw it over the wall” into the manufacturing site for them to get on with it, whilst R&D moved on
to the next, now more important project. Their job was considered as done!

Behaviours were seen where manufacturing did not like to have R&D present in their plant and R&D
did not like to be asked “Why do it this way?”. The more enlightened companies soon learned that
each side had much to learn from the other and introduced the concept of new product/process
introduction teams which led to faster more efficient product/process transfer. It also sometimes
led to the more permanent transfer of personnel as Subject Matter Experts between R&D and
Manufacturing & vice versa.

Also, the introduction of Pre Approval Inspections (PAI) particularly by the USFDA helped cement
this team approach to new product and/or process introduction to a manufacturing site, not only
up to the satisfactory conclusion of such an inspection but on an ongoing basis as trusting
relationships were formed in both camps. Though it often came as a surprise that a 5-day PAI often
for a non-biological product spent at least 75% of the time focused on GMP. Though this is not the
case for biological pre-PAI

I have also, particularly as a consultant, seen issues in the area of other new (not necessarily ATMP)
innovative products or combination product/delivery devices. These can and do involve issues as to
how the product is classified and what regulations apply. In such cases, the MHRA Innovation Office
provides free and confidential expert regulatory information, advice, and guidance, so prepare as
much information from a product and GMP standpoint as you can and then call them for advice as
to decision making and future direction. It really does make sense to do so.

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Opportunities
ATMPs and innovative medicinal products are exciting new fields in pharmaceuticals. They are
probably well served in terms of R&D resource but could well be lacking in GMP and PQS knowledge
and experience across the spectrum of activities from plant design and construction through GMP
Subject Matter Experts (SME) to the Qualified Person (QP) who has an in-depth understanding of the
industry, its regulation and has the legal responsibility to certify batches of medicines prior to
release

Whilst ATMP manufacturing processes may be complex or may appear daunting to an individual
who has a long career and experience in conventional pharmaceutical products, in reality, they are
not when broken down to high-level unit operations such as propagation/production,
separation/purification, formulation, etc. In fact, many of the techniques used in an ATMP
manufacturing process e.g. chromatography, filtration, etc. may be very familiar to such an
individual. What, however, is definitely true, is that fundamental understanding and application of
GMP is certainly a directly transferable skill; and based on the feedback from Mr. Rose, something
some ATMP manufacturing companies may well be crying out for in a potential future employee.

Could this offer you as an individual the opportunity of an exciting new career in this branch of
medicines production or as a regulatory inspector?

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